Guru Vandana Kaul, a noted Kathak exponent, said the show was organized with the objective of providing a platform for the young students to showcase their talent. Later, Mrs Naaznin Shafa Tewari and Mr Deepak Arora presented awards to the performers and encouraged them with their words of wisdom. In his inaugural speech, Minister Manish Tewari congratulated Guru Ravi Kumar Gangani and Guru Vandana Kaul for propagating India’s rich cultural heritage for which the country is known the world over. The Chief Guest, the Information and Broadcasting Minister, Mr Manish Tewari, Special Guest and noted social worker, Mrs Naaznin Shafa Tewari, and Guest of Honour and internationally renowned journalist, Mr Deepak Arora, lit the traditional lamp to symbolize knowledge and to ensure it is constantly gained. The students, with age group ranging from 10 years to 24 years, mesmerized the audience with their performances and assured the people that Kathak heritage of India is intact thanks to the dedication of their Gurus - Ravi Kumar Gangani and Vandana Kaul. NEW DELHI, Aug 21: It was an awesome Kathak performance by the students of Guru Kundan Lal Gangani Sangeet Kala Kendra here. The programme ended with an address by our honorable Chief Guest, followed by an interactive Q&A session.Mesmerizing Kathak performance by young students This musical blended three different dance forms (Kathak – Aakriti Narayan, Contemporary Ballet – Shinjouli Adhikari and Bharatnatyam – Sakshi Uberoi) and helped students realise how impactful fusion dance is in creating a world community that is tied together with a common thread of aesthetic appeal. What followed was a magnificent showcase of a theme-based musical “Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya – From Darkness to Light”, which was an innovative collaborative venture between the dance, music and language departments of TKS, aimed at talking about the current scenario, what we all have been through and how we are coping. Shamhbavi Kumari and Manya Gupta presented an informative session on the history and evolution of dance as a performing art, to enrich students’ knowledge about the various global dance forms. This was followed by enthralling performances by our students, including Kathak Sargam (Advika Kapoor), Contemporary Ballet (Shinjouli Adhikari) and Bharatnatyam Recital (Sakshi Uberoi). Our International Dance Day celebration started with a Saraswati Vandana performed in the Odissi form by Ms. Justin McCarthy – a classical pianist, a harpsichordist and a renowned Bharatnatyam dancer, who is currently associated with the Ashoka University as their Director of Performing Arts. This year, we were honoured by the presence of our esteemed Chief Guest Mr. The event takes place every year on 29 th April, which is the anniversary of Jean-Georges Noverre, the creator of modern ballet. The International Dance Day is a global celebration of dance, created by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute, the main partner for the performing arts of UNESCO. The Dance week culminated with the celebration of the International Dance Day on 29 th April 2021. Students were also able to appreciate various global dance forms like flamenco, ballet, salsa etc. The students showcased mesmerizing performances of different Indian folk dances like Lavani (Drishti Soni), Garba (Saanvi Sharma) and Meghalyan folk (Anusha Singh). The week also covered the vibrant hues of the various folk dances from all across the country. There were several spell-binding performances of the students, which included Odissi (Chetana Shankar), Kuchipudi (Siya Singh), Raudra Rasa in Bharatnatyam (Sakshi Oberoi) and Shringara Rasa in Kathak (Nayonika Kaushal).
They learnt about the “Navarasas” (Shringara, Hasya, Karuna, Raudra, Veera, Beebhatsa, Bhayanaka, Adbhuta, Shanta) and how they are expressed through different dance movements. They were introduced to the concept of “Abhinaya” and they explored the emotions encompassed by a dancer, who has honed the skill of being eloquent with their face and body.
They gained an insight into the eight different types of Indian Classical Dances, including learning about the costumes and mudras used to emote and express The students formed a perspective about the history and evolution of Indian Classical Dance.
The Khaitan School, Noida celebrated the Dance Week from 26 th April to 29 th April 2021, on the virtual platform.